Quail

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /kweɪl/

Definitions

1. A small, plump game bird with mottled brown plumage that typically lives on the ground and is known for its distinctive call
2. A type of small game bird recognized for its round body and spotted feathers, which is often found in wild habitats and is notable for its characteristic vocalizations
3. This bird species, compact and often camouflaged with earthy-colored feathers, primarily inhabits terrestrial environments and possesses a unique auditory signature

Etymology: The bird and the verb "to quail" are two different words that happen to be spelled the same. The bird came into English from Anglo-Norman "quaille", which traces back to Late Latin "quaccola", a name for the bird that also reached Old High German and other languages. The verb is a separate inheritance from Germanic: it came into Middle English from Middle Dutch "queilen", ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to suffer", and its sense of shrinking back in fear developed from that idea of distress. The two words are not related, so the bird's name owes nothing to the idea of cowering. The bird's name also carries a less polite history. In English, "quail" was once slang for a prostitute, a usage that arose because the bird was believed to be especially amorous. That meaning has faded, but it shows how a plain word for a game bird could take on an unexpected social colouring.

Synonyms: tremble, wince, flinch

Antonyms: brave, face